Illinois Tollway seeks upgrades, maybe toll increase

Illinois
Tollway officials last week pushed forward with a plan to rebuild
and widen 18 miles of the Tri-State Tollway near the Indiana border.
A toll hike to help pay for construction was discussed.

Made public
as part of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority's $412.3
million proposed 2003 budget, the plan reportedly calls for spending
$43.4 million next year for design work and some construction
to widen the Tri-State from six to eight lanes.

Officials
noted that without a toll increase they will not have enough money,
$522.5 million, to finish the job over the next five years.

"It
is predicated on a toll increase," tollway Executive Director
Thomas Cuculich told news reporters. "But if we don't get
the funding for it, then we'll have to scale it back."

The authority
reportedly is moving ahead with the project to synchronize plans
with the Illinois and Indiana transportation department's, both
planning to widen I-80 from the southern end of the Tri-State.
Tentative approval by the board is expected in October, with formal
approval in December.